murphy



(No Model.) a Sheets-$11865 1Q J. MOLQ MURPHY.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR scALlNe AND CLIMBING THE WALLS or BUILDINGS, &c.

No. 395,071. A Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

n PETERS. Phnlo-Lilhognpher, Wanhingtcn. n.c,

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. MOI... MURPHY. METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR SCALING AND CLIMBING THE wALLs 0F BUILDINGS, &0.

' No. 395,011. Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

N, PUKRS. PhoiwLilhcgv-aphnr. Waihingion. D. C.

(No Model. 8-Sheefis-Sheet a.

J. MoL. MURPHY. METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR SCALING AND GLIMBIIIGIHI: WALLS 0E BUILDINGS, m. No. 395,071. Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

M M J s J l ll Photo-Lithographer. gamma 0, c.

PATENT Genres,

JOHN MCLEOD MURPHY, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR SCALING AND CLIMBING THE WALLS 0F BUILDlNGS, do.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,071, dated December 25, 1888.

Application filed June 30, 1888. Serial No. 278,635. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN MoLEoD MURPHY, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Method of and Means for Scaling and Climbing the \Valls of Buildings and Similar Surfaces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description and specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a rear view of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a detail view of top of platform.- Fig. 3 is a detail view of a set of reels for halyards. Fig. i is an inside view of a detail of my apparatus, showing the platform in section and connection of hooks, halyards, and scaling-shafts. Fig. 5 is a view of the reverse side of port-ions of Fig. t. Fig. 6 is a crosssection of scaling-shaft. Fig. 7 is an. isometric view of the apparatus in use, the scalingshafts being broken at Z Z in order to enable the lower extremities to be brought within the scope of the drawings.

Similar letters in the various drawings indicate similar parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a method of raising men, or a basis of support 1 for men, from the ground, as far as may be t desired up the wall of a building without the use of ladders or other mechanism requiring a ground-support, and to do this without any previous preparation or arrangement of the surface of the building, and to provide an ap- 1 paratus for so doing which may be easily carried to the place of use and there easily operated for the purpose of putting in practice my said method. I attain the objects desired by means of operating in accordance with my 5 method the apparatus hereinafter described, and which I have invented for this purpose. f

My art and apparatus, while capable of usefulness in many directions, has special reference to the uses of firemen, and is intended Z and adapted to enable firemen to dispense with the pondcrous and comparatively unl manageable systems of ladders or fire-escapes now in use, and to reach any desired floor, or r the roof even, of any burning building with 1 great ease and celerity.

My method, broadly considered, consists in maintaining a footing or place of support for the firemen or other climber by means of suspension, without other support from the ground than is afforded by the wall of the building climbed, and of causing said foothold or support to ascend from floor to floor by the application of muscular or other power from sources which do not ascend as the climbing progresses.

The apparatus which I have devised and which I prefer for the purpose of applying the method described consists, first, in the foothold or platform B, which should be made of size sufficient to enable two or more men to stand thereon, and of any suitable shape, the shape, however, being comparatively immaterial. I prefer, however, the platform constructed substantially as shown in the drawings, having a double floor rigidly united by stays, trusses, or other supports 0 12. These double floors are correspondingly pierced by slots or openings p 1), Fig. 2, through which are to be inserted and to slide the scalingshafts A A.

The platform B should be constructed of the lightest possible materials consistent with the required strength and rigidity-such, for instance, as steel or irona non-inflammable material being also pret'eralflc.

The scaling-shafts A A should be constructed of similar material, and are preferably made of steel or iron, whose cross-section is of T shape, as shown in Fig. (i. The shafts should be so fitted to the perforations p p in the platform as to enable them to be moved up and down through the same with ease, and it may be useful to provide the edges of the platform around the sides of the perforations p p with anti-friction rollers or other wellknown devices intended to diminish friction,

while at the same time enabling the shafts to be snugly embraced by the platform. These l shafts A A are further united with the platform B by two sets of halyards or hoistingropes, D D C C, Fig. 1, and. (1 Figs. 4 and 7 The upper pair of said halyards, C C, Fig. 1, are fastened at one extremity to the platform B, and are thence carried over pulleys k it, near the top of the shafts A A, and thence downward to the ground through other suitable apertures, c c, in the platform B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or through the shaft-holes p p within the recess formed by the T shape of the cross-section of the shafts, as shown in Figs. i and 7, C 0

The next pair of halyards, I) I), are fixed at one of their extremities to the lower part of the shafts r A, and are thence carried upward through pulleys Z I, fixed to the bottom of the platform B.

It is apparent that a downward pull upon the top halyards, C, will raise the platform until further upward motion is stopped by the pulleys 7r. 7;, and that thereafter a downward pull upon either of the second pair of halyards, I), will raise its attached shaft through the platform until stopped by the pulley I, provided the platform, together with the other shaft, can be provided with means of support other than the ground.

I provide such means in the following manner: The head of each shaft is provided with an extensions, G, so shaped as to form suitable axial bearings for the wheels I I F F, hereinafter described, and also bearings c c (1,

against which the upper side of the hooks E i cutting -blade, (I. a, and at the other with a suitable projection, c. The lower side of the shaft of these hooks is so shaped as to enable it to engage with and be actuated by the cogwheels I I, and the hook itself is placed in the apparatus so as to lie between the riders c c c of the shaft head G, and the wheel I, which is rigidly secured to the shaft-axis T, turning in suitable bearings afforded by the shaft-head G, as best shown in Fig. 4. To the same shaft is also rigidly secured a wheel or pulley, F, provided with any of the wellknown mechanical devices for engaging with the chain g g, so as to be turned to the same extent that the chain is pulled.

The chain 1 gis, as shown in Fig. 5, an endless one, running on a proper system of pulleys, (7 (I, and is actuated by another pair of halyards, ll. ll, which are permanently attached at one extremity thereof to said chain, and thence carried within suitable recesses in the sides of the shafts through the platform B to the ground, as shown in Fig. 5.

For use at fires it is desirable that my apparatus should be provided with a hose and nozzlc,'I ot the ordinary form, and with a rope ladder, L, both secured to the platform, as shown in the drawings.

The halyards I prefer to make of steel, wire rope, or other similar material possessing very great strength and non-inflammability. A

convenient length of such halyards should be permanently secured t o the apparatus. I prefer, however, that the length of halyard carried with the shafts shall not exceed a suilicientlength to enable the plat form to be raised to the top of the shafts, as thereby there is less danger of confusion,and all the length of halyards which may be additiomillyrequired can be readily and conveniently carried separately from the rest of the apparatus in an ordinary reel-case, Fig. 3, and added by any appropriate means whenever additional length of halyards is requirml.

I prefer, also, to provide the shafts with a number of (,n'oss-floors containing eyelets u "1!, as shownvin Fig. 6, through which these halyards, which are carried, as aforesaid, within the recesses of the shafts, may be threaded and preveniml from escaping from the re Having thus described my apparatus, its method of operation is as follows: Assume, for instance, that a lofty building is on fire, that the fire has invaded the middle parts of the building and cut oif all means of access to the upper floors and roof, which are so elevated as to be beyond thercach of ordinary ladders, or so situated that same cannot be raised against them, owing to presence of in tervening i'OiGglitpiI\VII'GS or other obstructions, in such a case my ap 'iaratus, weighing not to exceed two hundred pounds, and I be lieve capable of being constructed of sufficient strength at a lighter weight, has been brought to the scene of the fire upon any convenient or proper truck. It is immediately set up on the ground at the foot of the walls of the burning building, the platform B being at the bottom. of the shafts, the shafts raised vertically through said platform, and the hooks E E having their ax-shaped faces against the wall of the building and projected i to their whole extent in the position illustrated by E in Fig. 7. The halyards are all connected and in position, as shown in Fig. 11., in which condition the apparatus should always be kept ready for immediate use. The reel containing the additional lengths of halyards is now approached to the apparatus and connections made between the additional halyard lengths and the ln'tlyards already in positioi'l.

If desired, a hose and hose-nozzle are also connected with the hose-pipe connection 1\', and in almost every instance it will be useful to connect also to the platfm'm a rope or other flexible ladder, L. Skilled men are stationml so as to operate the halyards, and the apparatus is now ready to commence its ascent.

If desired, one or two firemen may stand upon the platform and ascend with it the entire distanee,but the weight is thereby corres iondingly increased, and it is of course al.- ways possible for the firemen to run up to the platform upon the fl exible ladder L as soon as the platform has been hoisted into the dcsired position.

The apparatus being in the position last described, the halyarifls (,3 C (or if the form of construction. shown in l igs. 7 and 4: is preferred, the halyards C C are hauled upon and the platform with its said attachments necessarily slides up the shafts A A until the pulleys 7G 7.: are reached. Further hoisting on the first pair of halyards, now ceases and they are belayed orheld in position, thus suspending the platform B at about the height IIO' of the pulleys 7a 7a above the ground. The next movement is to raise either one of the scaling-shafts A A above the platform B. This is effected as follows: Suppose, for instance, it is desired first to raise above the platform the climbing-shaft A, Fig. 1. In this case the hook E of that shaft must first be drawn backward into the position occupied by it, as shown in Fig. 7. The retrogression of the hook E is readily efleeted by hauling upon its halyard H, Fig. 5, which being connected with the chain g g and the latter so combined with the pulley F as to cause the latter to rotate to the same extent that g is pulled, thereby causing the cog-wheel I to rotate also, and this in turn engages with and forces the hook E backward until the position of E shown in Fig. 7 has been reached. The hook E has now been brought into a suitable position to enable the shaft A to ccnd.

The shaft A is readily raised by hauling upon the halyard D and simultaneously and correspondingly releasing the halyard C, (or in the form of construction shown in Figs. 7 and et the halyards (1 C and also the halyards ll ll. The shaft A is thus readily caused to rise through the platform until stopped by the pulley Z. In practice, however, it is not usually requisite to raise the shaft through the platform to its entire length. The shaft should be raised so far only as to bring the hook E just above a window-sill or other suitable projection or basis of support therefor in the wall of the building.

As soon as the hook E has been brought to the position last mentioned, hoisting on the halyard D should cease and the halyard should be delayed or held stationary and the halyard ll sharply pulled, which will reverse the movement last communicated to the hook E and project it forward toward the surface of the building with force su'fticient-to cut or break through a window or other like obstacle, and will bring the hook E over the windowsill or other basis of support, whereupon the shaft is allowed to settle slightly until the hook finds abearing, whereupon,thehalyards being properly held or secured, the entire apparatus will nowbe held suspended upon the hook E and will have exchanged the basis of support last occupied by it for one considerably higher up on the front of the building. The remaining shaft, with its hook, is now in its turn similarly raised, and may be caused to rest upon the same window-sill, now serving as support for the hook E, or passed further on to the window-sill. or suitable projection on a higher floor. The platfm'm iscorrespomlingly raised by properly hauling it up the shafts by its halyards C (1 or C C in proportion as the climbing-shafts are alternately hauled upward, and find higher and higher basis of support.

No absolute rule can be stated 'forguidance as to the amount of hauling upward on the halyards at any given. time, as each case will present, by reason of the variations in the surfaces of buildings, different conditions, which should be met by good judgment on the part of those intrustcd with the manipulation of my apparatus. In this connection the same discretion should be employed that a goodsclimber would make use of in selecting the most feasible and best path and movement for sealing a wall or other obstacle.

I provide a mechanism affording a body or base support, combined with climbing shafts or arms capable of considerable extension and of clutching that of which it isrequired to climb. As these arms or shafts, with their hooks, are adapted to serve alternately as hooks from which the entire apparatus may be safely suspended and alternately as arms reaching upward to secure a new bearing or point of support, and are adapted to be actuated by as great an amount of force as may be desired, it is manifest that climbing may be thereby effected to any extent, limited only by the length of the halyards and the extent to which the wall affords window-sills or other proper basis of support within reach of the limits of motion inherent in my apparatus. It is of course manifest that as soon as the required height has been reached any number of firemen may ascend the ladder L, and that a stream of water may be directed through the hose, which has also been simultaneously carried upward. It is also apparent that my apparatus may prove of great service in saving human life in the rescue of those whose escape has been out oft by the flames.

To be properly manned, it is preferable that one man at least should be stationed at each halyard or set of halyards.

More men, of course, might be detailed for the purpose of hoisting should greater power be desired, or the apparatus might be combined with the steam-power of one of the tireengincs, so as to be hoisted thereby.

The belaying of the halyarlls, should it become necessary, may be effected around any convenient objects in the street, or any proper apparatus therefor may be employed The weight of the men who hoist the apparatus will usually be amply sufficient to sustain it.

The size of the apparatus may of course vary with the requirements of the uses to which it shall be put.

I find that for the uses of a lire department the billowing sizes of the parts are as convenient as any and afford excellent results: the length of the shafts A A either twelve, fourteen, sixteen, or eighteen feet; platform surface, three feet by two and one-half feet; length of hooks, six feet six. inches. 'ihese are the principal dimensions. The dimen sious of the subm-dinate parts should be relatively proportionet'l, substantially as shown in th e drawings.

The drawings, Fig. 7, show a portion of my aimaratus in the act of climbing. The shafts are represented as broken. at the point Z Z,

in order to bring the lower portions thereof within the field of the drawings. The whole apparatus is suspended upon the hook E, whieh is shown as resting upon the window sash and sill. The other shaft, A, is in the aet of rising preparatory to grasping another window or the roof. Below is soon it window whose sill and sash have afforded a basis of support for the zu'iparat us in a previous part of its elimb. Means other than the hooks speeitieally shown by me might be employed for the purpose of grasping or adhering to points of support during the upward olim'b of the apparatus. Again, the power aetuating the shafts, as well as the hooks or other grasping apparatus, might be applied by eonnoetions other than the halyards or (ables which l have deseribed. For instant-e, eleetrieitv might be employed to aetuato m v apparatus, and man other ehangos might bemade in the details of form and oonstruetion,all without departing from my invention, which consists in its broadest aspeet in the relation sliding shafts A A, said shafts being pro vid ed with apparatus for grasrdng, clutching, or clinging to the object to be climbed, and said shafts being so related and eonneeted with said platform that: either may be raised or lowered relatively to the others, or said platform and either shaft simultaneously raised or lmvored relatively to the other shaft,

without destroying said e1)mbimition, substantially as d eseribed.

-t. The eombination, with the plat'ftn'n'i 1 of the sliding shafts A A, eaeh provided with hooks E E, which hooks are adapted to move l)tl(l \\*fll(l and forward independently of any motion on the part of said shafts, and either of which shafts is :ulapted to be raised and h'iwered relatively to said platform and to tho other without moving said platform or the other shaft, and wh ieh plattiorm is adapted to be raised and lowered relatively to said shafts without moving either or more than. one of them, substantially as and for the purposes deseribed.

of a movable eent ral body or datform to two movable arms provided with independentlyaeting elutehing or holding extremities, oaeh of said arms, as well as said platform, being capable of bein se 'mratelv moved upward or downward without disturbing their aforesaid relation to each other.

\Vhat l elaim as new. and desire to seeure by Letters ilfatent, is the following, viz:

t. In a elimbing apparz itus, a middle por- In eombination with the platform B,tho shaft A A, eonneeted with said platform by halyards C t" .l) l) and by the pulleys 7: is Z Z, said shafts being eaoh respeetivel5 provided with hooks E E, which hooks are adapted to be earried baokward or forward by appro- 1 priat'e meehanism, sul'isttmtially as and for the [)Ull'MJfiO specified.

ti. In combination with sliding shafts A A,

eombined and operating with platform B, as

tion, base, or ')lat'form provided with arms or shafts adapted to grasp, eluteh, or eling to the objeet to be elimbed, eaeh of said shafts being adapted to aseond and deseond independently of ascent or desoent on the part of deseril'ied, the breaking and grappling hooks in combination with endless chains g,

i pulleys 1: F, shafts T T, toothed wheels I 1, and halyamls ll ll, substantially as and for the other shaft or of the platform, and either 1 tion of platform 13, shafts A A, halyards C 1 (17, pullevs 7,: Ir, halyards II') I), and pulleys I, said shafts being provided with apparatus pemlently of aseent or deseont on their part i or on the part of either of them, substantialtv as and fortho purposes doseribed.

2. In a elimbing appzu'atus, a middle por- I pullo vs L: l., halyards .l) lf), )u1leys l 1,

deseent on the part of the other shaft, sub 1 stantially as and for the purposes deseribed.

hooks E 1.,

23. The etnnbination of the platifmm l), with the p u rpose deseribed.

7. In a elim'l'iing a 'i iaratus, the eomliinafor grasping, elut'ehing, or elinging to the objeet to be olimbod.

h. In a ('limbing apparatus, the eombination of [)littffll'lll li, shafts A A, halyards (J shzrft-heads (l ('ir', pulleys F F, shafts 'l '1, lOtfl'llGtl wheels 1 I, endless chains g g, provided with pulleys d (I, and halyards it 1-1, all o nnating' substantially as and for thopurpose doseribed.

.l( )H N Mel iht l') lllURPl-IY.

\\' it n essos: I

WM. Comm-i Dick, WiLLLuI J. or: LARMIIIJTAHE. 

